Production and Marketing Essentials for Aspiring Music Producers

The mobile age has only made the production industry a more promising land for music enthusiasts, with IBISWorld’s Independent Label Music Production report pointing to an impressive industry revenue of $354 million between 2008 and 2013. Unfortunately, not every music lover has what it takes to make it as a producer. As with the rest of the entertainment industry, music production is, by nature, a cutthroat endeavor. Only the most passionate, most talented, most clever and most willing to sacrifice are able to make it big. But if you do make a name for yourself, the payoff could be incredible, both in terms of finances and personal satisfaction. A successful launch is an absolute necessity, so make the appropriate equipment investments and networking decisions before you venture into this competitive arena.

Invest In Quality Equipment

While it’s true that the musician holds far more responsibility for catchy tracks than the production equipment, a poor set of tools will still prevent an otherwise amazing single from reaching its potential. Ideally, you will have the space necessary for a home studio, although even a small apartment nook can successfully complete the job. “Lifehacker” suggests investing in a audio interface along the lines of the $200 Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6, a decent cardioid mic, and a pair of studio monitors. These tools will make your life as a music producer far easier — and they’ll improve the quality of your end product.

Networking Is Essential

As in pretty much any entertainment-related line of work, the cliche “it’s not what you know, but who you know” definitely applies to music production. You can learn plenty by cracking open a textbook, but it’s not until you hob-nob with the pros that you’ll really understand the ins and outs of this competitive industry. Much of the value in enrolling in audio engineering schools in California comes from your ability to connect with other producers, not to mention musicians with whom you can collaborate with musically and help perfect your respective crafts.

Market Yourself With A Personal Website

You may find yourself collaborating at a later date. Networking remains just as important after college, but becomes a bit more tricky, which is why it helps to join a trade association such as the National Association of Music Industry Professionals.

LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are all great additions to any music producer networking initiative, but in the end, a personal website will cement the vast majority of your professional leads. No musicians, record labels or agents will view you as a serious producer until you’ve shown off your skills through your own professional website (not to mention your resume) online. If creating a website is beyond your expertise, consider investing in assistance from a professional. The best time to do this is while you’re still in college, as you may be able to convince a fellow student (ideally a web design student) to complete the endeavor at a discount rate.

Keep in mind that launching your personal production website serves as only the first step in the never-ending process of internet marketing. Once your website’s up, you’ll need to keep it updated with your latest gigs, contact details and other important developments. Experts at “Udemy” also recommend keeping the site reflective of your target demographic — the featured site for an R&B producer should look nothing like that of a punk rock enthusiast, unless they use a fusion of the styles in their music.

Production and Marketing Essentials for Aspiring Music Producers

Comments

[JT]

Thanks! some good advice on getting into production. Helpful post